U.S. CONGRESS LaTourette survives ugliness of politics
The incumbent swept past an heiress, winning re-election to his sixth term.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressman Steve LaTourette brags about a framed picture of former President Garfield hanging on his office wall because the two Northeast Ohio natives have something in common: Both have bushy beards.
Warned at the start of his political career that voters would never elect anyone with facial hair, the Madison Republican shaved his beard, but the pictures he took were "so ugly," that he grew it back.
"I've had it ever since, and they still elect me," LaTourette joked.
The irreverent congressman, known in Congress for his attention to detail and dry humor, had more serious issues to contend with this year: He was accused of being out of touch with his district, having a romantic relationship with a lobbyist who lobbies his congressional committee and accepting tainted money from House GOP Leader Tom DeLay.
Fending off Cafaro
He also had to raise millions to fend off Democrat Capri Cafaro, a Mahoning Valley shopping center heiress, then 26, who used at least $2 million of her own cash to run a blur of negative ads, such as one in which she called LaTourette a liar.
LaTourette said the campaign was his most expensive and most negative one. The ads about his girlfriend "hit below the belt." He said she doesn't lobby him or the transportation committee.
Even Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat, didn't approve of the tactics.
"It's like playing for the Cleveland Browns and having a brother who plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. You wish good things for your brother, but you want to win," Kucinich said of his friendship with LaTourette.
"You don't want your brother, who happens to be on the other team, you don't want anyone clubbing him, or spearing him, or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct," Kucinich said.
Easy victory
Still, LaTourette swept past Cafaro, winning re-election to his sixth term, 63 percent to 37 percent.
"I'll tell you what helped him: People know him. People in his district, they have grown to like him and know what he's all about and how he stands on issues," said Rep. Bob Ney, a Republican from St. Clairsville and LaTourette's closest friend in Congress.
LaTourette, 50, grew up in Cleveland Heights, the oldest of four children. His parents divorced when he was 8, then married other people, causing his family to more than double in size.
Now divorced himself, LaTourette spends every other weekend with his 17-year-old son and 13-year-old twins. His oldest daughter, who's 21, worked on his campaign this year. He plays tennis, reads fiction, watches reality TV shows and admits crying during some movies.
"He is a guy who doesn't take himself too seriously for a serious legislator," said fellow Ohio Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi, of Columbus.
Maybe that's because LaTourette, a former Lake County prosecutor, wasn't always interested in politics. Party officials approached him in 1992 about running for Congress and LaTourette turned them down. Democrat Eric Fingerhut was elected.
By 1994, LaTourette changed his mind: "I'm not a real big national political guy, but I didn't think things were going in the right direction, so I decided I'd do it. What the heck," he said, winning that race 48 percent to Fingerhut's 43 percent.
Outside the box
In Washington, LaTourette invited humor columnist Dave Barry to serve on his staff for a week, then told The Plain Dealer that life in Congress "sucks" and fellow Republican Martin Hoke would lose his re-election campaign.
Hoke did lose, but speaking out against another Republican is usually frowned upon. Still, LaTourette says he meant what he said. He also stands by his friendship with ousted Rep. Jim Traficant, a Democrat expelled from Congress and sent to prison for accepting bribes.
A member of the House transportation and financial services committees, LaTourette has been a leader on recently enacted identity theft safeguards, Great Lakes issues and a bill in 1998 that allowed more people to join credit unions.
He promised to serve just two terms, but now says that's not enough time to get things done. With his sixth term about to start next year, LaTourette says he has his sights set on becoming chairman of the transportation committee.
And, he says he'll never shave his beard: Voters so far have accepted him as is.